Man found shot to death in Houston home was visiting from Oregon, police say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- ABC13 has learned the identity of the man found shot to death inside the home on the 1700 block of T.C. Jester Boulevard was 35-year-old Dana Lars Ryssdal from Oregon.

That home was the residence of a missing man, whom police are actively searching for.

The homeowner's neighbors called the police after seeing a pickup truck had been left running in the garage for several hours, and the homeowner wasn't picking up his phone.

Police said they have not been able to locate 37-year-old James Gerald Martin III since arriving at the home for a welfare check on Friday, Jan. 27.

They are trying to locate Martin, though he has not been charged in the incident. Police are also looking for a missing 2022 white Dodge Ram pickup truck with Oregon license plate 915NLP.

Authorities would not confirm to ABC13 if the truck belonged to Ryssdal, and they are not calling Martin a suspect.

Police said neighbors knew something was not right in the home, which records reveal Martin's parents purchased in March 2022. The 2,450-square-foot home is one of 11 houses in a gated community.

"It was unusual, so the neighbors reached out to family, and ultimately, they decided to call 911," Det. Blake Roberts with HPD said.

Police ask anyone who has seen Martin or the pickup truck to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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